Opportunities for cooperation

Our research aims to develop new technologies, components and processes for use in industry and to improve existing ones. Cooperation with companies and other research institutions is therefore of particular importance to us. Together with our partners, we develop ideas from the initial sketch through to industrial implementation. We are convinced that by pooling our expertise and experience, we can achieve even greater benefits for sustainable energy supply.

If you are interested, please contact us.

Cooperations and networks

German Solar Association (Bundesverband Solarwirtschaft e. V.)

The German CSP Association (DCSP) was integrated into the German Solar Industry Association (BSW) in January 2024, meaning that DLR and the Institute of Solar Research have been active members of the BSW association ever since. The aim of the association is to represent the interests of companies that manufacture, plan, distribute and install solar systems and solar technology components.

EERA - European Energy Research Alliance

The European Energy Research Alliance is the largest energy research community in Europe. It is a membership-based, non-profit association and brings together 250 universities and public research centres in 30 countries. EERA's joint research programmes cover the whole range of low-carbon technologies as well as systemic and cross-cutting topics.

enerMENA Meteo Network

The meteo network is a cooperation of the DLR with international research institutes and industry partners. The main objective of the network of meteorological stations is to provide reliable meteorological data for the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa).

ESTELA - European Solar Thermal Electricity Association

The European Solar Thermal Electricity Association represents the interests of European industrial companies and research organisations in the field of solar thermal electricity generation since 2007. The aim of the association is to support the growing European solar thermal electricity industry for the production of green electricity in Europe and abroad, especially in the Mediterranean region.

FVEE - ForschungsVerbund Erneuerbare Energien Renewable Energy Research Association

The ForschungsVerbund Erneuerbare Energien (FVEE) is a nationwide cooperation of research institutes. Its members research and develop technologies for renewable energies, energy efficiency, energy storage and the optimised technical and socio-economic interaction of all components of the system.

Plataforma Solar de Almería

The Plataforma Solar de Almería in southern Spain is the largest research, development and test centre for concentrating solar technology in Europe. The owner and operator of the plant is the Spanish Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT).

Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme

The "Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme" (PVPS) of the International Energy Agency (IEA) is a research and development cooperation that deals with photovoltaic solar energy systems. DLR is particularly involved in the areas of energy meteorology, soiling and agricultural power plants.

Rhein Ruhr Power e.V.

Leading companies and research institutes in the field of power plant technology have joined forces in Rhein Ruhr Power e.V. With the development of the "power plant of the future", Rhein Ruhr Power is making an important contribution to the realisation of a sustainable and intelligent energy supply system.

RWTH Aachen University Chair of Solar Technology

The RWTH Aachen University offers students technical study programmes. The aim of the cooperation between RWTH and DLR is to strengthen the scientific exchange between university and research institution. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Robert Pitz-Paal, director of the Institute of Solar Research, holds the Chair of Solar Technology.

RWTH Aachen University Chair of Solar Components

The RWTH Aachen University offers students technical study programmes. The aim of the cooperation between RWTH and DLR is to strengthen the scientific exchange between university and research institution. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Bernhard Hoffschmidt, director of the Institute of Solar Research, holds the Chair of Solar Components.

SFERA 3

SFERA3 is a project of the EU funding programme Horizon2020. 15 research institutions from 9 European countries are involved. Since 8 years SFERA offers its members the institutional framework for the organisation of European research cooperations and the mutual opening of research institutions. The project supports also the transfer of knowledge into industrial practice, i.e. by offering practical trainings for technicians and engineers. A further goal of the project is to continuously improve the quality of the services offered by its research institutions.

Solar-Institute Jülich

The Solar-Institute Jülich focuses on the development of application-oriented, technical solutions in the fields of renewable and efficient energy use. The institute benefits from the broad interdisciplinary knowledge of the University of Applied Sciences Aachen.

SolarPACES

The network coordinates international research for solar thermal power generation and solar chemical technologies and promotes exchange with industry experts. 19 countries from all continents are represented in the SolarPACES network by their leading research institutions for concentrating solar technologies. DLR is one of the founding members of the SolarPACES network.